Last weekend I was in Ohio for the Arnold Sports Festival (www.arnoldsportsfestival.com) in Columbus, Ohio. They call it the “Sports Festival” because there are more athletes that compete that weekend than there are at the Olympic Games!

I attended the Arnold for the first time in 2002 as a competitive gymnast. That year, I watched the IFBB Pro Fitness competitors at their finals and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I told myself, I am going to be on that stage one day. Fast forward 10 years, and I have competed in the show as an IFBB Professional fitness/figure competitor five times, winning three Figure International titles (the most anyone has ever won at that event in the Figure division).

This year, I was invited once again to compete, but my shoulder injury sidelined me about seven weeks out from the show. It has become a recurring injury now since it started back in October. I got an MRI and it showed supraspinatus tendonitis, bursitis and AC Joint inflammation on the left shoulder. Thankfully there is no tearing, but I needed to take the time to recover and not make the injury worse, which could put me out for longer and potentially effect my prep for the Olympia.

Watching the show instead of competing is always interesting. When I compete, I are so focused on myself – how I look, my posing and presentation – so I don’t really I actually get to watch the girls I stand onstage with. Being in the audience is an entirely different perspective. It motivates me even more to get back and be better than ever.

Here are a few photos from the trip!

I flew into Michigan the Monday before the event so that I could see my family for a few days before driving down to Ohio on Thursday. I always overpack lol

My friend Amanda came with me this year and stayed with me until Saturday

I was able to meet everyone who stopped by the Met-Rx booth and the 6 Pack Bags booths. The crowd was crazy! It was so great to meet everyone!

Look who I ran into at the 6 Pack booth! This was from a photo shoot we did after last year’s Olympia

Still had time for a little fun at the expo

On Friday, I was asked by Bodybuilding.com to be a special guest on the live webcast with Felicia Romero and Kathleen Tesori

Sunday morning I was doing cardio in the hotel gym … and Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped on to the treadmill next to me! I don’t think he recognized me lol

4 Comments

Like your thousands of followers I have always drawn inspiration from your success and how far you have come mad a female athlete.

It was unfortunate that you could not compete in the Arnold’s but I’m confident you will bring out your bet in the Olympia.

I do have a question regarding your injury as I am experiencing slight discomfort and inflammation in my own shoulder.

What did you do as soon as you discovered your injury & how have you maintained your training your upper body despite your injury? I want to compete in about three months time but worry that I cannot perform my best at the gym and work on a winning physique.

I heard something pop and then could not lift my left arm over my head for about a week, so training upper body was completely out of the question for me. I initially gave it a couple of days but when it wasn’t getting better I went to see a doctor. After being diagnosed he told me to take 3-4 weeks off from training. I was able to train legs and do cardio during that time, of course. If I had attempted to come back sooner, without letting the injury recover, it was very likely that the injury would keep coming back, which would have put my Olympia prep in jeopardy. At this point in time in my career the Olympia is really the only contest that matters, so I obviously couldn’t risk that. I don’t know the level of discomfort or swelling you are experiencing, but if it has been bothering you for more than a few days I would recommend seeing a doctor and listening to what he or she says about rehab and recovery.

Just wanted to let you know how inspiring you are to me! You looked simply amazing in the Olympia. Congrats on your very well earned win! I’m literally in awe of you =).. you are such a beast of an athlete and soo humble at the same time. I admire that more than anything! I recently became a member of your website this past month and I’m ADDICTED! All the posts are so helpful and interesting.. it’s now my morning routine to check your site, and then I relay what I read to my boyfriend who is my trainer. You and I have a lot in common with the way we train and meal prep. I keep my meals SO simple lol, and most think its boring but it works for me! Eat to fuel right?! 😉 As of right now I compete in women’s physique. April 2014 was my first show in Indianapolis, I placed 3rd. That’s when my addiction to this sport happened.. I love every single thing about the prep and the sport. It has been a lifestyle change for me now. This past Nov. I competed in Nash, TN at the Music City Muscle, place 1st in Class A and took home overall. My dream is to go Pro! One day ill get there, just trying to enjoy the process right now. I saw on your appearance list you’ll be at the Arnold! I’ll be competing in the amateur show! I CANNOT wait to meet you!!! =) After I compete in my planned spring 15′ shows I will then jump to competing in Figure. I looove physique , it’s so much fun but I can’t see myself gettng as big as some of the Pros.. Of course they look great, that’s just not how I want to look =) So in the future I would love to be one of your clients!